CUE007

Thailand & Laos - a journey of contrasts

This mission will enhance all elements of the CUE007 experience by travelling extensively and immersing ourselves in the cultures of the various regions of Thailand and Laos. Agents will begin this experience in Bangkok where they will gain an understanding of this city, its history, culture and diversity. Agents will then fly to the world heritage town of Luang Prabang in Laos, to take in the beauty of the Laotian culture. There will be time to explore the town’s textile markets and an opportunity to give a food offering to the many monks that live in the local temples.

Next, agents will travel up the Mekong River by long boat, visiting the Pak Ou caves where thousands of buddha figures are stored. A river border crossing into Thailand will preced our entry into the Chiang Rai region which lies in the heart of the famous ‘Golden Triangle’. An essential stop while in this part of the country is a visit to the Opium Museum. This very impressive building houses displays, media and interactive exhibits detailing the history of opium from the 15th century and is one of the finest museums of its type in the world.

Agents will visit the famous and atmospheric night markets of Chiang Mai where all manner of textiles and handicrafts can be purchased through bartering with the locals. An expert chef will teach us all we need to know to impress our friends and family back home, with some hands-on cooking lessons while learning the secrets of traditional Thai cooking. An introduction to Thai boxing and a visit to an elephant camp in Chiang Rai are also on the itinerary. A focus of this region of Chiang Mai will see our agents participating in three days of community service, helping locals to restore and repair a local village school.

Taking the overnight train to Ayuthaya to explore the historic temple ruins, agents then travel west to visit the infamous Japanese prison base that held Australian and allied troops during World War 2. They will visit the POW built Bridge over the River Kwai. A mission highlight will be the journey to Hellfire Pass memorial where POWs were forced to dig a gorge through solid rock. An island experience will complete this passage, as they head east to Ko Samet for marine based activities. This experience in Thailand and Laos will give agents the opportunity to connect to two unique cultures rich in tradition which are a marked contrast to their own. They will have the opportunity to reflect on who they are, what the differences are and to expand their knowledge of these two amazing countries.

How will agents travel?
The group will travel by plane to Bangkok flying Thai airways and to Luang Prabang with Lao Airlines. From then on they will travel in a modern air-conditioned coach for majority of the trip. They will also use bicycles, an over-night sleeper train and a long tail boat.

Planned itinerary

Day 1 Flight from Melbourne with Thai Airways to Bangkok.

Day 2 The Grand Palace, famous temple Wat Pho that houses a 46 metre reclining Buddha.

Day 3 MBK shopping area and afternoon flight to Luang Prabang.

Day 4 Famous night market, water falls, Royal Museum.

Day 5 Morning food offering to monks, slow boat ride on the Mekong to caves and visit a local village.

Day 6 Slow boat ride to Thailand border crossing, Ecolodge accommodation.

Day 7 Chiang Rai, visiting the Golden Triangle area and Opium museum. Night market, local dancing.

Day 8 Chiang Mai Community Project

Day 9 Chiang Mai Community Project

Day 10 Chiang Mai Community Project

Day 11 Thai cooking class, Thai boxing class, night market, elephant ride.

Day 12 Overnight sleeper train to Ayuthaya, boat ride around historical ruins

Day 13 Bus to western province of Kanchanaburi to visit the POW built Bridge over the River Kwai

Day 14 Hellfire Pass and war graves

Day 15 Travel to Ko Samet

Day 16 Ko Samet, marine activities

Day 17 Ko Samet, marine activites. Bus to Bangkok.

Day 18 Flight from Bangkok to Melbourne with Thai Airways.

Please note that final details of this Big Experience may be subject to changes.